Frequently Asked Questions
Will you run ad campaigns for us?
The packages we offer do not include an advertising budget, if this is something you would like to discuss please speak to one of the team on 020 8050 8731 and we will provide a quotation.
Why are your costs higher than most, even though you’re using foreign workers?
Our costs are on the low end of the market for a human worker. Social media A.I tools cost significantly less but an argument can be made that it always better having a real person behind the computer. Our costs might seem high for foreign workers but we remunerate our staff very well under the “1:30” rule, offer significant annual leave and sickness packages, including performance bonuses. These incentives allow us to attract the very best talent, at affordable rates.
What is meant by an “AI Virtual Assistant?”
We use real people, not AI bots. But an AI Virtual assistant is often understood to be a program or “bot” and not a real human. This program interacts with clients/or customers. The advantage is a significant cost reduction however the limitations are many. Our Virtual Assistants are real humans who use A.I tools to be more efficient and productive.
What are the limitations of an “AI Virtual Assistant”?
They are not human so they are not incentivised or biased. This can be a disadvantage, as they won’t go beyond their programming to please or deliver for a client.
You are often subscribing to a tool owner, who gains leverage over your business as more of your processes become reliant on their software. If you become totally reliant, you are at risk of operational, I.P, data, and cost vulnerabilities.
Emotional Intelligence. Although AI Is certainly improving on this front they will never be able to truly emulate a human entirely. This is a significant factor when dealing with high value clients.
Lack of function. Ever been to a website and no real customer service answers, just some dumb Bot? you exhaust the options and get the wonderful “Sorry we will get back to you!” message. This personally infuriates me and If I encounter this I look elsewhere for the product. This is why I believe customer facing support should always be humans that understand the product and customers needs clearly.
What is meant by an “AI Tool for cost reduction”?
There are many companies offering these solutions. They are essentially A.I tools/programmes that automate processes and improve productivity. It’s worth considering the vulnerabilities that could arise should a business become totally reliant on these services, one key vulnerability being the need to switch to a new system.
How can you claim your V.A’s are more productive?
Here at Smythe Geanga, we hire the best. It’s a human-AI symbiosis. I personally as the C.E.O handpick our staff to ensure they fit with our company expectations. There are many workers today around the world who don’t use A.I or are lazy/or perhaps agnostic toward it’s potential. I’ve witnessed supreme inefficiency in the office, and i’ve worked in offices where the entire teams workload can be done by one efficient person but the company fails to see it. I believe that by fully utilising A.I tools a skilled human worker will become the ultimate productivity tool for any business, versatile and dynamic in every way. Hire one of our VA’s today, you won’t be dissapointed.
Is this Legal? Doesn’t it violate U.K Employment law?
The services we provide are delivered through a multi-tiered outsourcing arrangement. Not a direct employer-employee relationship. Here's a breakdown of the key points:
Contractor, not Employee: Our London-based company is contracting with a Philippine company, which is an independent business entity. This is the crucial distinction that avoids "disguised employment" risks under UK law.
Direct Control: The UK company's role is limited to quality assurance of the final work and procuring new contracts, not controlling the day-to-day activities, schedules, or work methods of the individual VAs. That control rests with the Philippine partner company, which is their legal employer.
Local Compliance: All employment obligations—like paying salaries, benefits, and taxes—are handled by the Philippine company in accordance with local labour laws. This ensures all workers are treated fairly and legally in their country.
Why do I need to use your services, when I can go direct to the Philippine company?
Well, this is a great question. Sure, you can do that! However, we are experts at what we do. The Philippine company may not have the infrastructure or knowledge to deliver the service without us working with them. Simply put, Risk Mitigation, Quality Control, and Seamless Management. If you were to engage directly with the company you lose several layers of protection.
Further explanation below:
Legal Compliance: We handle the complexities of international contracts and legal compliance on the client's behalf. Our services ensure you avoid potential legal pitfalls associated with engaging a foreign entity, such as classification of workers or compliance with international labour laws.
Reduced Liability: Our company, as the primary contractor, takes on the responsibility and liability for the project. By using our services, the client avoids the risk of being held "solidarily liable" for any issues with the subcontractor's employees, which is a key protection under Philippine law.
Security: Vetting the Philippine company. We have already performed due diligence to ensure the subcontractor is a legitimate, compliant, and reliable partner, protecting our client from fraudulent or unreliable providers.
Simplicity: We are the “easy button”. The client has one contract and one point of contact with a UK-based company, eliminating the hassle of setting up international payments, managing multiple contracts, and dealing with overseas legal systems. (And the Philippine legal systems are notoriously complex)
Time and Cost Savings: While a direct relationship might seem cheaper, there are major hidden costs of time and resources if you directly engage them. The client would have to spend significant time on due diligence, managing legal risks, and handling project management, all of which our service handles for a fixed fee.
Established Processes: We have existing infrastructure, including established communication channels, payment systems, and project management tools, as a value-add that a direct relationship would lack.
Would it be better for me to just get a U.K Based VA?
I’m not going to market this to you, I will speak plainly. It depends entirely on what you want. I’m not going to say that U.K Based VA’s are better or worse than our Philippine VA’s however the cost for a U.K VA is significantly higher, the decision is ultimately yours.
Personally, If I wanted a high profile project of critical importance done by a VA I would carefully choose someone of the appropriate skill level. You can find high-end Executive VA’s in London that charge £100+ per hour, so like I said it depends. But for basic things? Choose us!